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In focus: Research at Princeton

by Eric Quiñones

July 15, 2005 10:43 a.m.

Photo: Denise Applewhite

Princeton University is unique in combining the strengths of a major
research university with the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts
college. Pushing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing real-world
problems, Princeton scientists and scholars publish research across the
spectrum of intellectual inquiry.

In 2003-04, researchers on campus conducted $142 million in
sponsored research, an increase of $4 million from the previous year.
In addition, researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab conducted
$71.3 million in research funded primarily by the U.S. Department of
Energy.

The largest source of research funding at Princeton was the U.S.
government, which provided $105 million toward 686 projects (not
including the Plasma Physics Lab). The National Institutes of Health
provided $39 million in funding, while the National Science Foundation
funded $29 million in projects.

Molecular biology had the highest level of any department in
sponsored research funding with $27.4 million in expenditures. The
physics department had $11.5 million in research projects. Total
expenditures for sponsored research at the School of Engineering and
Applied Science were $40 million.

The Office of Technology Licensing received 93 invention
disclosures from faculty and staff members and filed 98 patent
applications. The U.S. Patent Office issued 27 patents during 2003-04
for inventions made at Princeton. The University entered 24 license and
option agreements with companies for the commercial development of
Princeton inventions.